Fabio Cannavaro will be hoping to lead China to success in the China Cup tournament.

World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro has been named head coach of the China national team for next week's China Cup tournament, the country's football association announced on Friday evening.

The Italian, who is the coach of Chinese Super League (CSL) side Guangzhou Evergrande, will take charge of the squad for the four-nation competition, which kicks off on March 21 with China facing Thailand in the semifinals.

Wu is the biggest name in Chinese football after finishing the 2018 Chinese Super League season as top scorer to help Shanghai win a first ever championship. He also shone in the 2019 Asian Cup earlier in January, helping the national team to the quarterfinal stage.

After being linked recently with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League, Shanghai may have to face up to losing...

Regional heavyweights Iran underlined their Asian Cup title credentials with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Marcello Lippi's China on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the continental championship for the first time since 2004.

Goals from forwards Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard combined with a record-equalling fifth straight clean sheet was enough to set up a last-four date with four-times champions Japan in Al Ain next Monday.

South Korea have Son Heung-min, and China have Wu Lei. The two may not be at the same level in terms of talent or renown, but the Chinese attacker is as important to Marcello Lippi's side as Son is to Paulo Bento's. This was made all the more clear on Wednesday when the teams met in their final group game at the Asian Cup.

The Chinese were always going to find it tough against South Korea in Abu Dhabi. But without Wu -- sidelined by a shoulder injury -- it was almost mission impossible as they sank...